Adjustable picture frame



Aug. 4, 1925.

R. H. BINNS ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Filed Feb. 20, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug; 4, 1925. 1,548,249

R. H. BENNS ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Filed Feb. 0, 192.4 3 Sheeizs-Sheefl 2 Aug. 4, 1925.

' R. H. BINNS ADJUSTABLE PICTURE} FRAME Filed Feb. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 $0M fl 7 A: r L N m 2 W w J a EL 2 W 2 z I [I F a U n 2 w v.. w v 1 7 a a r a r a a w m 2 2\ 2 Ur \2 2 J 1 1 3K q & E a v E m a \F Wm r M m a 1 wa 3 wlr/vggsis wm Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

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r 1? ur rr RALPH H. BINNS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME.

Application filed February 20, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH H. Burns, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Picture Frames, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in sectional knock-down picture frames capable of adjustment to different sizes within limits, with the main object of reducing to a minimum the stock required to carry for supplying certain, styles of frames in various sizes.

The invention relates to the type of adjustable frames in which a series of corner members are mounted upon telescoping side and end rail members. The invention re sides in certain details of improvement in the general construction and arrangement of parts in this type of frame; and also in the particular means for securing the frame sections in assembled framing position and of an improved form of detachable and reversible easel bracket for the frame.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, it will first be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and afterwards pointed out more particu larly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings 2* Figure 1 is the front perspective view of the improved adustable frame;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the same;

Figure 3 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4- 1 of Figure 8;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4: showing an adjusted position of parts to produce a longer frame than that intended by the arrangement in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a rear face view of the parts of the frame separated or extended from their operative position as shown in Figure 2;

Figures 7 and 8 are rear edge views of the opposite easel bracket members detached from the frame;

Figure 9 is a. detail sectional view taken on the line 9-4) of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 2;

Serial No. 694,056.

-Figure 11 is a detail partial perspective view of one of the end or side rail members;

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of a corner member and easel bracket member in their operative relation but detached from the rest of the frame pieces.

The improved sectional adjustable picture frame comprises essentially four corner membe "s, two side rail members, two end rail members and means for securing said members in assembled framing position.

The four corner members are all of iden tical construction, each comprising an angular channel body 1 formed of a. properly shaped sheet metal blank bent into the desired form, each corner member providing the angularly extending channels 2 opening inwardly and at their ends. The inner edge of each channel 2 is defined by a flange or rib 8, which ribs provide guides for the side and end rail members to prevent lateral displacement as hereinafter explained.

In forming the corner members 1, it is necessary to cut the portions of the metal blank forming the rear walls 1 to enable them to be folded over into a common plane with their adjacent edges meeting at an angle of as indicated at 5. These rear walls 1 are braced at the corners by means of integral lugs 11 stamped out .of said walls and projecting up through perforations in the bottom walls of flanged sheet metal buttons 10, the integral lugs being bent over for securing the buttons upon the rear walls of the corner members. These buttons 10 bridge the joint between the rear walls of the corner members for strengthening said members and they also serve the purpose of lugs or projections for the engagement of the cord or wire, which secures the frame members in assembled position and finally as members for the engagement of the detachable and reversible easel brackets. The rear walls of the corner members also have integral tongues 12 upon their ends which are bent over into parallel relation with said rear walls to form lugs or projections which engage the detachable easel brackets in cooperation with said flanged buttons as hereinafter explained.

15 are the end rail members and 20 are the side rail members of the sectional frame.

These end and side rail members are of the same construction, each being formed of a sheet metal blank bent into channel shape providing the parallel walls 21 and 22 of unequal length and the edge wall 23 which is angularly cut at its ends 24 to join the two face walls The channels of these end and side rail members are presented inwardly to receive the picture, the glass, the mat and the backing, or any of these parts that may be included in framing a picture.

The corner members and end and side rail members may be formed of the desired sheet metal surface by polishing or other ornamenting process, or these members may be covered with paper, leather, or other ornamental material. Each ofthe end andside rail members is provided at the opposite ends of its walls 21 and 22 with integral tongues 25, which are bent backwa-rdly upon faces of the walls to provide guide lugs or enlargements which slide in engagement with the inner faces of the wall channels of the corner members when the parts are assem bled. When an ornamental covering is applied to themembers, such as leather as indicated at 26 in some of the figures of the drawings, this leather covering is suitably glued to the outer surface of the members and the tongues25 bent over upon the covering as indicated particularly in Figure 11 of r the drawings.

The purpose of making the end and side rail members with faces of unequal length is to provide reversibility of these member. to enable them to be more closely titted together in making a small frame, and at the same time to provide for the exposure of a greater extent of finishedsurface upon the end and side rails of the frame when making a relatively large frame. In Figure 6 of the drawings the several frame members are shown extended and slightly separated, the short face walls of the end and side rails being presented to the rear of the frame. It

will be clear that in telescoping the end and side rails in the corner members the maximum width. and length of frame can be produced with the end and side rails in this position, since it would be necessary to telescope the rear members in the corner members to a slight extent only'to cause them to engage; In Figure a portion of the frame is shown of a size in which the end rail member is entirely telescoped within the corner members, while portions of the side rail members are shown as only partly projected into the corner members. In Figured, however, a portion. of the smallest possible frame. is illustrated in which: both the end and side rails'are completely telescoped in the corner members and the side rail members are reversed. with relation to the end rail members, sothat the long face walls of the side rail members may be'projected up into the extreme corners of the corner members in the same plane as the short faced walls of the end rail members, the side and end rail members overlapping at their ends. 7

Figures 1 and 2 show the sectional frame in assembled position upon a picture, Figure 1 being a front view and Figure 2 being a rear view of the same. In assembling the parts the side and end rail members-are engaged with the sides and ends of the picture, glass and backing and telescoped with the corner members, the flanges or ribs 3 of the corner members guiding the side and end rail: members and preventing lateral dis placement. The bent over tongues 25 of the rail members form guiding lugs or flanges which slide upon the inner surfaces of the channels of the corner members as indicated particularly in Figures 9 and of the drawings. These tongues serve to space the side and end rail members from the corner members to prevent marring the surfaces of therail members. lVhen the parts of the frame are assembled a cord or wire, 30 is wound into engagement with the flanged buttons 10 and held in position either by tying the ends of the cord or wire, or by the frictional engagement of the ends of the cord or wire beneath the flanges of said buttons. In some cases it may be desirable to wind the ends of the cord or wire also around the tongues 12 of the corner members for assisting in securing the same.

I prefer to provide the improved adjustable frame with detachable and reversible easel brackets, best shown in Figures 2 and 1-2 of the drawings. These brackets consist preferably of the frame engaging plates 85 from which project the integral supporting legs 36 having the angular base edge 37. The plate portion has a notch 3 at its upper edge and an extended arm 3!) at its lower edge formed with an angularly projecting lug 40. In mounting these easel bracket members upon the frame the notch 38 is engaged with one of the tongues 12 ot' a corner member and then moved laterally to place the arm 39 and lug 4O beneath the flange of an adjacent button 10. The lug 40 is preferably of proper length to spring snugly beneaththe flange of a button. it is preferred that the 'isel brackets be put in place upon the desired corner members prior to the application of the cord or wire 30 so that a winding of the cord or wire upon a button will encircle the lug 4-0 and further insure against the accidehtaldisplacement of the easel bracket.

It will be observed that these easel brackets 35, 36 are formed for right and left corners of the bottom of the picture frame, the two forms being shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings. The only difference be tween the two-members of the pair ofbracle lot) ets is the inversion of the positions of the legs 36 with respect to the arms 39. In Figure 2 these easel brackets are shown applied to the picture frame with the supporting legs 36 presented adjacent to the outer upright edges of the frame. It will be clear by reversing the position of these brackets, that is moving the left-hand bracket to the right-hand position and vice versa, the supporting legs 36 will be presented adjacent to the inner edges of the side rails of the frame. This reversed position is shown in Figure 12 of the drawings.

lVhen the frame is made of ornamented metal parts, as of paper or leather covering. the buttons 10 can be provided with disks of paper or leather, such as shown at 41 in Figure 10, said disks 41 covering up the bent over lugs 11.

I claim:

1. An adjustable sectional picture frame comprising corner members, side rail members and end rail members telescopically connected to said corner members, and spacing means carried by those members which telescope within the other members for preventing contact between the outwardly presented finished surface of the former members against the inner walls of the latter members.

2. An adjustable sectional picture frame, comprising channeled corner members, channeled side and end rails adapted to telescope with said corner members, said side and end rails being formed with integral tongues bent backwardly upon the rails to form guiding and spacing lugs to engage the inner walls of the corner member channels, and means for holding said corner members and side and end rails in assembled position.

3. An adjustable sectiorlal picture frame, comprising channeledcorner members, channeled side and end rails adapted to telescope with said corner members, said corner members and side and end rails being formed of shaped metal coated or covered with a suitable finishing material, and said side and end rails being provided with tongues bent backwardly upon the finishing coating or covering of the rails to form guiding and spacing lugs to engage the inner walls of the c0rner member channels, and means for holding said corner members and side and end rails in assembled position.

4. An adjustable sectional picture frame, comprising corner members and side and end rail members, all of said members having inwardly presented picture receiving channels and said side and end rail members telescoping with said corner members, said corner members being formed with guide flanges to prevent lateral displacement of said side and end rails therein, and adjustable means for holding said corner members collapsedon said side and end I'ail members against the resistance of a picture framed thereby.

5. An adjustable sectional picture frame, comprising corner members and side and end rail members, all of said members having inwardly presented picture receiving channels and said side and end rail members telescoping with said corner members, said corner members being formed with front and back walls and forwardly presented guide flanges integral with the inner edges of said back walls to prevent lateral dis placement of said side and end rails therein, and means for holding said side members against relative adjustment after being assembled upon a picture, said means being releasable to permit the adjustment of said corner members and said side and end rail members.

6. An adjustable sectional picture frame, comprising corner members and telescoping side and end rail members, all of said members being of U-shaped cross section and each of said side and end rail members being formed with front and back walls of different length and reversible end to end, and means for holding said members in assembled framing position.

7. An adjustable sectional picture frame, comprising corner members and telescoping side and end rail members, all of said members being of U-shape cross section and each of said side and end rail members being formed with mitered ends and front and back walls of different length, and means for confining said members in assembled framing position.

8. An adjustable sectional picture frame, comprising channeled corner members and telescoping side and-end rail members, each of said corner members being formed of a sheet metal blank shaped into integral front, edge and back walls, and the adjacent edegs of said back walls being mitered and provided with integrally formed tongues, and bracing members bridging the mitered edges of said back walls and secured thereto by said tongues.

9. An adjustable sectional picture frame, comprising channeled corner members and telescoping side and end rail members, each of said corner members being formed of a sheet metal blank shaped into integral front, edge and back walls, and the adjacent edges of said back walls being mitered and provided with tongues, b 'acing members bridging the mitered edges of said back walls and secured thereto by said tongues, and a cord or wire engaging the bracing members of all of said corner members and thereby holding the frame members in assembled framing position.

10. An adjustable sectional picture frame, comprising channeled corner members provided with flanged buttons centrally dis posed with respect to the angles formed by said corner members, channeled side and end rail members telescoping with said corner members, and a cord of wire extending around said flanged buttons and holding the frame members in adjustable assembled position.

11. The combination of a picture frame having lugs or projections upon its rear face, with bracket arms releasably engaging said lugs or projections, and other means interacting between said frame and bracket arms for releasably locking the latter in engagement with said lugs or projections.

' 12. The combination with a picture frame having corner projections upon its rear face and other projections spaced from said corner projections upon the rear-faces of the sides and ends of said frame, of bracket arms adapted to engage one of said other projections on a side or end of said frame and to be releasably interlocked therewith by means of one of said corner projections.

13. The combination of a picture frame having a rearwardly projecting lug, with a bracket comprising a plate engaging said lug, an angularly projecting leg. and an arm adapted to be releasably interlocked with said frame for retaining said plate in engagement with said lu t V 14. The combination of a picture frame having rearwardly projecting lugs adjacent its corners and other rearwardly projecting lugs spaced from said corner lugs along the rear face of the ends and sides of the frame, with brackets each consisting of a frame engaging'plate and an angularly projecting foot, said bracket plates being detachably mounted between said spaced rearwardly projecting lugs.

15. The combination of a picture frame having upon its rear face a flanged button, and locking lugs spaced from said button, with an angular bracket engaging between said button and said lug for detachably mounting the bracketupon the frame.

16. The combination of a picture frame having upon its rear face a flanged button, and locking lugs spaced in two directions from said button, with an angular bracket engaging bet-ween said button and said lug for detachably mounting thebracket upon the fraine. i V

17. The'coinbination of a picture frame provided Witha flanged button upon its rear face, and a locking lug spaced from said button, with a bracket formed with a frame engaging plate notched at one end to engage said locking lug and shaped at its opposite end to engage said flanged button, and an angularlyprojecting supporting le 18. The combination of a picture frame provided with a flanged button upon its rear face and a locking lug spaced from said button, with a bracket formed with a frame engaging plate notched at one end to engage said locking lug and shaped at its opposite Y end with an integral lug to engage the flange of said button, said bracket having an angularly projecting supporting leg.

19. A sectional picture frame having corner members and telescoping side and end rail members, said corner members being orovided with flan ed corner buttons and looking lugsspaced from said corner but tons, in combination with easel brackets detachably mounted between said buttons and 1 encircling said flanged buttons and r to the arrangement of said leg and plate in i the other of said brackets, and means upon said frame for detachably engaging said brackets, whereby said brackets can be detachably and reversibly mounted upon said frame;

21. The combination of a sectional picture frame having corner members and side and end rail members, said corner members being formed with corner buttons and locking lugs spaced from said corner buttons in two directions, with reversible easel brackets det-achably mounted between said buttons and locking lugs of said corner members, and means for holding the frame members in assembled position.

22. The combination of a picture frame comprising adjustably connected side and end rail members and corner members, and detachable easel bracket arms, said corner members being provided with means on each arm thereof for releasably engaging said bracket arms.

23. The combination with a picture frame having relatively adj i'lstable corner, side rail, and end rail members, of detachable easel brackets, said corner niemliers being provided with duplicate means for attaching said brackets adjacent to one long side of said frame and adjacent to one end of said frame, whereby said frame may be supported upon its long side or upon one end. I

' RALPH H. BINNS. 

